The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-19


Senator Chapman's scheme to max
printers of the convicts of the Illinois pen
itentiaries seems to be progressing. Tn,
latest turn has been the enlisting of Rok
ker IL Co., present State printers, by con
tract, In the plan. The bill as revised, con
templates the employment of convicts OF
the presswork and binding, turning thu
typesetting, electrotyping, &c, over 70 the
States contracting printers at current rates
It's very fine job, and II goes without say
ing that the State printers are quite de
lighted with It. Indeed, the whole State
printing business Is getting In a position t,
merit an investigation, especially 50 as the
entire local press Is Interested In the con
tract to more or less extent, and thus al
criticism Is shut off. Chapman's bill ha
not yet be III offered, though 1t has beer
ready for some weeks; and will not be un
til the senate appears to have cooled off
AS the contractor furnishing the paper I,
the State has just skipped out to Canada
some $4,000 In the hole, and as very bat
smell obtains In the senate committee
room where the contractors are being ruI
through the investigation mill, the chances
are that the senate will not cool off at very
rapid rate; and to say the printing ring Il
in hot water is drawing II yery-ver,
mildly.
On Wednesday week u resolution introduc
ed by Lamont, submitting to the people OF
the State prohibition amendment was de
bated In the house committee. Our Browne
was against 1t, of course, but 1t was voted
by the committee (l0 to % to make favor
able report.
The Revenue Code has also begun to ex
cite debate In committee. There Is nc
doubt of the crying need of n complete re.
vision of, at least the whole assessment
system; but whether anything will be &C
complished at this session is decidedly
open question. The question is so difficult
that 1t Is doubtful If the report of the com
mission will be agreed to.
The revenue bill now under considera-
ton ~ the committee is that proposed by
the commission appointed two years ago.
IL Is too voluminous for even a synopsis
but some of It's leading features are as fol.
lows:
/. 1t separates the State revenue entirely
from local taxation. 1t eXempts real es-
tate from taxation for State purposes, and
avoids the inequalities of diverse valuations
by many county assessors, by having no
general State property tax either on real
estate or personally. The county assessors
are left TO their usual work, and may make
their valuations high or low as the local in
terests require.
2. The State revenue Is derived entirely
from railroads, telegraph, telephone, ex
press, and insurance companies and banks,
the taxes on which are to be paid directly
into the State Treasury, The llliRois Cen
trail Railroad pays to the STATE about $780,.
600 year and II is estimated that the
other railroads, telegraph, telephone ex-
press and insurance companies would pay
$2400,O00 more. Other sources would
bring the amount up to $1,000 900 a year,
which Is sufficient If there is surplus
II would be apportioned among the coun
ties; II deficiency. the counties would
be called upon to make 1t up by ratable
contributions.
3. Railroads are taxed on their gross re-
Ceipts. The sum of these receipts In each
case Is multiplied by five, and tax equal
TO the average rate throughout the State is
levied on the product. The last year $ total
gross receipts Of all the roads In Illinois
we're $56,0OO,000O, which, multiplied by
five, gives $3.50, 900, 900 as the taxable value
of the roads. The net earnings were SEQ.
DOC, 600, which Is seven per cent and
tifle over on the valuation. II Is provided
that In no case shall the tax on a railroad
exceed five per cent on Its gross earnings.
The roads now pay 10 the State 81, 10000
In taxes, but under the proposed method
they would pay $2,4OO,00O. The large
companies, 1t is thought, will oppose the
scheme; but II the Illinois Central can af.
ford to pay seven per cent of It's gross re.
Ceipts into the State treasury, II would not
appear unreasonable 10 exact such tax as
the commissioners method proposes.
4. Telegraphs are taxed 70 cents a mile
On their wire. Telephones are taxes rs
cents mile on their wire Telephones
are taxed 81 ON each instrument Express
companies are taxed 212 per cent on their
gross receipts. Public warehousemen are
taxed One.third of cent per bushel on the
CAPACITY of their elevator or warehouse In.